November 07 Thursday 2002
Pollock can forfeit opener's role in SL Test

JOHANNESBURG: South African captain Shaun Pollock could forfeit his opening role in the first Test against Sri Lanka which starts here on Friday, as selectors look at bolstering the national squad's bowling attack. Selection convenor Omar Henry said bolstering the efficiency of South Africa's bowling attack was a prime objective when he announced a 13-man squad for the Test at the Wanderers, including two additional pace or swing bowlers.

Henry did not say whether the reorganisation of the bowling resources could include a switch for Pollock but said it was an option. Pollock, 29, renowned as one of the steadiest bowlers in Test cricket, is third in the latest world bowling rankings but has failed in recent seasons to bowl at the pace which he had when he started his Test career seven seasons ago and there has been speculation for some time that he might be asked to relinquish the new ball.

Pollock, who has taken 263 wickets in 64 Tests, admitted after his side crushed Bangladesh in two Tests last month that a change in bowling order was a possibility, although he indicated he still believed he could play a new ball role. "It could work to go for out-and-out pace at both ends but it is also a good thing to have someone with experience and accuracy at one end with sheer pace at the other."

The recall of Steve Elworthy could mean that he would share the new ball with Makhaya Ntini, with Elworthy a steadier option than Mornantau Hayward, whose pace is offset by a tendency to bowl a large number of loose deliveries.

Elworthy and Ntini opened the bowling in the third and final one-day international against Bangladesh. Pollock bowled as first change. In such a scenario, Pollock and all-rounder Jacques Kallis would take up the attack when the ball has lost some of its shine.

Elworthy was not picked for the Tests against Bangladesh. Kallis is under a minor fitness cloud after missing the South African domestic five-day final last weekend because of a hamstring strain. He is expected to play but his fitness will be assessed Thursday.

If Kallis cannot play, his likely replacement is all-rounder Andrew Hall, who had match figures of 11 for 99 with his swing bowling when unfancied provincial team Easterns upset favourites Western Province in the final.

Hall, who played in two Tests against Australia, could play in any event if the selectors opted for an all-pace attack. The Wanderers is no longer the fast bowlers' paradise it used to be but it is nonetheless unlikely to offer much assistance to the spin bowlers.

In the absence of the unorthodox Paul Adams, left-arm spinner Claude Henderson played against Bangladesh with only modest success. Henderson was retained in the South African squad but had a disappointing performance for Western Province in the final, taking only three wickets in 73.3 overs in the second innings as Easterns ground out a winning total. Sri Lanka will provide South Africa with their first major challenge in a home season which will culminate in the World Cup in February.

The key bowler for Sri Lanka will be off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who lost his place at the top of the world Test bowling rankings to Glenn McGrath following McGrath's recent performances against Pakistan. Muralitharan has taken 70 wickets in 11 Tests against South Africa and only Gary Kirsten of the current South African team has scored a century against Sri Lanka when Muralitharan has been playing.

Sri Lanka have a stable batting order and their key batsmen all made runs in two warm-up matches in South Africa. Russell Arnold, who made 98 against the Rest of South Africa in Lenasia Monday, looks set to open with Marvan Atapattu, with skipper Sanath Jayasuriya batting at number five behind Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jaywardene.

It is Sri Lanka's third tour of South Africa in six seasons and all the top order batsmen have played in South Africa previously. Teams: South Africa: Shaun Pollock (captain), Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher, Andrew Hall, Steve Elworthy, Claude Henderson, Mornantau Hayward, Makhaya Ntini.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Russell Arnold, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Hashan Tillakaratne, Jehan Mubarak, Hasantha Fernando, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Sujeewa de Silva, Chamila Gamage, Thilina Thushara, Tharanga Lakshitha, Muttiah Muralitharan, Prasanna Jayawardene;

Umpires: Daryl Harper (Aus), Russell Tiffin (Zim). TV umpire: Shahid Wadvall (Rsa). Match referee: Gundappa Viswanath (Ind).